We can get the obvious out of the way: Jay Electronica still hasn’t dropped an album. Yes, we know. You done?

Now, let’s talk about the fact that the man has been a part of some incredible moments in Hip-Hop. I was there when he brought out Mos Def in New Orleans for an epic show. And now he’s outdone himself by bringing Jay Z out in his home borough for the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. They performed the “We Made It” freestyle, “Shiny Suit Theory” and a Jay Z verse that doesn’t ring a bell.

It’s another moment in time Jay Elec has provided Hip-Hop that we’re better off for experiencing. Album or no album, you have to commend the guy for that. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out Law, the NOLA maestro behind a lot of Jay’s moves and who has been down with TSS for years. He’s been promising monster moves like this were on the horizon and I sort of laughed it off but dammit if there isn’t something special brewing from Jay Electronica over the last few months.

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Jayz verse that doesn’t ring a bell? That’s the young gifted and black freestyle from early 2000’s. Probably on a S.Carter mixtape or something round that time.
This shit was kinda epic, and I was on the clear other side of Brooklyn mad as hell when my phone starts blowing up. Jayz came out with the Nation on some Mike Tyson shit.
I don’t think jayz has done any of those lyrics live ever. This was for the pure fans, no radio hits ringing off today just bars.
I should’ve been in attendance just for jay electronica alone and missed the roc nation trio of jcole jayz and jay elec all in the same spot smh.

Do I have to be in-tuned with the Nation Of Islam to give Jay Elect praise? Because most of the stuff he says goes over my head but it sounds dope when he says it. Like should I open a web page and start reading to know more?

Which got me to thinking, who is the best rapper that doesn’t bring up five percent philosophy? That takes out Jay, Nas, most of the Wu, Rakim, Kane.

Jay Elec’s a conspiracy theorist’s wet dream for a musician, but I don’t think you need to know the Nation of Islam to really respect his craft. I sure as hell know nothing of the organization, but his delivery and the pictures he paints with his rhymes are unparalleled.

@Stay Frosty don’t have to be a part of the NOI or a Five Percenter to appreciate some of their views on the African Americans and our larger role/purpose in the world & world’s history. I’m by no means a NOI member or a Five Percenter, but I agree with some of their views.

As far as rapping is concerned, knowing their views isn’t a prerequisite, but it helps to better understand the deeper meaning behind the lyrics (i.e., why rappers were calling each other “god”). Hell, tons of mid 90’s rappers were dropping the Five Percent raps and it went over most people’s head.

What id like to know is why it can’t be both. Like everybody swears that you cannot like Shmurda, Troy, and Jay Elect. It’s fxcking ridiculous that we have so much internal friction within our own culture and then get mad when outsiders offer their views or try to outright appropriate our shxt.

@Stay Frosty Nah I think the crowd was feeling it. At least I was fucking with it, and I didn’t even know who dude was. The crowd was definitely more receptive to Bobby Shmurda than Troy Ave. That’s for sure. Scram Jones kinda played him when Shmurda was asking if he had the Shmoney dance beat and he didn’t have it. That was hella awkward.

@Aaron Smarter I think the audience was cool with Bobby Shmurda, but nobody was fucking with Troy Ave.